| Summary: | Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the development of film criticism in Cape
Town's daily press from 1928 to 1930, using film reviews from the
newspapers the Cape Times and Die Burger as sources. The study
starts with an overview of studies concerning early South African
film history, and characterizes it as a rather underdeveloped
field of study. The character of film criticism in the period
under discussion is explained by using a description of the
general function of film criticism as a basis and taking film
criticism in the Weimar Republic of Germany as an example for the
following comparison. The basis for the comparative analysis is a
list of films screened in three selected cinemas in Cape Town from
1928 to 1930. Part of the analysis is an empirical study to
examine the quantitative development of film reviews in the period
under discussion. Length ranges with which to characterize film
reviews are defined and the preferred average lengths of reviews
for both newspapers as well as for films screened at the
particular cinemas are listed. The qualitative part of the study
is a content analysis of two selected groups of films: 1. films
which received average-size reviews and 2. films which ran longer
than average and received above-average size reviews. The survey
reveals that the Cape Times followed a "quantitative strategy",
reviewing all films screened and that Die Burger had a
"qualitative
The reviews
strategy",
in both
reviewing specially selected films only.
newspapers can be characterized as
functionalistic. The Cape Times displayed their business
orientation by publishing mostly advertisement-like reviews; Die
Burger's political orientation was reflected in comments about the
language in sound films, including film and cinema into the
language struggle. The study demonstrates that newspapers are a
valuable source for research concerning early South African film
history. The existing standard reference, Thelma Gutsche's The
History and Social ,Significance of Motion Pictures in South Africa
1895-1940 can be fruitfully complemented by using Afrikaans
newspapers, as well as the writings of the Afrikaner film critic
Hans Rompel. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die ontwikkeling van rolprentresensies in
die pers van Kaapstad in die jare 1928 tot 1930 en gebruik
daarvoor resensies van die nuuskoerante Cape Times en Die Burger.
Die ondersoek begin met 'n oorsig van die vroeë Suid Afrikaanse
rolprentgeskiedenis. Die karakter van rolprentresensie in die
gegewe periode word verduidelik deur 'n beskrywing van die
algemene funksie om rolprentresensie as "n basis te gebruik en
rolprentresensies in die Duitse Weimar Republiek as 'n voorbeeld
vir die opvolgende vergelyking te neem. Die basis vir die
vergelykende analise is 'n lys van rolprente wat in drie
geselekteerde bioskope in Kaapstad gedurende die periode van 1928
tot 1930 gewys is. 'n Gedeelte van die analise behels 'n empiriese
studie om die kwantitatiewe ontwikkeling van rolprentrensensies
gedurende die gegewe periode te ondersoek. Lengte reekse word
gedefinieer om die resensies te karakteriseer, en die verkose
gemiddelde lengtes van resensies word gelys vir beide nuuskoerante
as ook vir films wat by die geselekeerde cinemas gewys is. Die
kwalitatiewe gedeelte van die studie is 'n inhoudanalise van twee
geselekteerde groepe van rolprente: 1. rolprente wat resensies van
gemiddelde lengte ontvang het en 2. rolprente wat langer as
gemiddeld gewys is en resensies van bo-gemiddelde lengte ontvang
het. Die ondersoek wys uit dat die Cape Times 'n "kwantitatiewe
strategie" gevolg het deur alle rolprente te resenseer, terwyl die
Die Burger 'n "kwalitatiewe strategie" gevolg het deur net
gekeurde rolprente te resenseer. Die resensies in albei
nuuskoerante kan as funkionalisties beskryf word. Die Cape Times
lig sy besigheidsgeorienteerde houding uit, deur grotendeels
advertensie-gelyke resensies te skryf; Die Burger demonstreer sy
politiese orientering deur kommentaar oor die taalgebruik in
klankrolprente te lewer en sluit so rolprente en bioskope in die
taalstryd in. Die studie demonstreer dat koerante 'n waardevolle
inligtingsbron vir navorsing oor die vroeë Suid Afrikaanse
rolprentgeskiedenis lewer. Die bestaande standaardverwysing,
Thelma Gutsche se The History and Social Significance of Motion
Pictures in South Africa 1895-1940 kan suksesvol gekomplimenteer
word deur gebruik te maak van Afrikaanse koerante, as ook van die
tekste van die Afrikaanse filmkritikus, Hans Rompel.
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